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Koronis Lake Association urges Paynesville support for lake projects, highlights fireworks' economic benefit
Summary
Koronis Lake Association representatives told the Paynesville City Council they fund most lake programs and fireworks through membership and grants but asked the city for continued partnership and potential matching support; KLA estimated a July 3 fireworks show could inject about $40,000 into local businesses and said some funding sources (statutory watershed petition money) cannot be used for fireworks.
Representatives of the Koronis Lake Association told the Paynesville City Council that protecting Lake Koronis requires ongoing funding, technical partnership and coordination with local and state authorities.
"If you take a conservative estimate that the event draws 2,000 people to the area, each person spending $20... 2,000 people times $20, that's $40,000 immediate injection into local businesses in the city of Paynesville," said Joe Burbach, a KLA board member, describing the economic role of the July 4 fireworks and related events. Burbach said the association also leverages university research and regional partnerships to support aquatic invasive species (AIS) management and education.
Kevin Farm, speaking for the KLA board, said the group funds roughly 99% of the fireworks display through membership donations and charitable fundraising but asked the city to consider occasional matching funds or political backing to unlock state grant resources. "We fund 99% of that through our membership donations," Farm said, adding that the association arranges logistics such as pontoon boats and island access for the display.
KLA representatives described their water-quality work and boat-inspection program at three main launches, their tracking of invasive species (including starry stonewort and zebra mussels), and their pursuit of grants from the Legacy Foundation, the DNR and county AIS coalitions. The group also referenced a watershed-petition mechanism under Minnesota law (cited in discussion as section 105D) and explicitly noted that petition funds "can only go towards water quality or AIS on the lake; it cannot go towards fireworks."
Council members asked whether lodging (tourism) tax revenue could be used to support KLA activities or fireworks, and staff said the final allocation will be decided when the council sets its 2026 budget at the first December meeting. The chair directed staff to follow up on eligibility for lodging-tax funds and to include historic commitments in the December budget discussion.
The association said it plans fireworks on July 3 (the Friday before the 4th) and described steps taken after a previous contractor folded: KLA reported securing a stable vendor for upcoming shows and continuing AIS and shoreline projects through grants and local fundraising.
Next steps: council members said they would consider potential lodging-tax or budget allocations during the December budget meeting and that staff would follow up with KLA on grant-leveraging and eligibility questions.
